Harmonica holder



A. L. FUTER 1,954,169 HARMONICA HOLDER Filed Aug. 24, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l April l0, 1934.

S m H W HUATTORNEY April 10, 1934. A. L. FUTER 1,954,169

HARMONI CA HOLDER Filed Aug. 24, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESS I N VEN TOR Patented Apr. 10, 1934 PATENT OFFICE HARMONICA HOLDER Andrew Leaman Futer, Intercourse, Pa.

Application August Z4,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to harmonica holders, and has for an object to provide a device for holding a plurality of harmonicas, any one of which may be readily positioned for operation, and the whole properly suspended by a bail around the neck of the user. l

This falls Within the class of devices wherein the musician plays a number of instruments, the harmonica being one supported from the neck and played by the movement of the head and lips rather than by the movement of the harmonica, which remains stationary during such playing and provides that the hands of the musician shall be free for operating other instruments.

It is well known that harmonicas are provided tuned in diierent keys, and that for different musical compositions, harmonicas f different keys are required, and the present invention is designed for the support of a plurality of such harmonicas, presumably tuned in different keys, so that the musician may position any one of such differently tuned harmonicas almost instantly for use.

The invention, therefore, comprises a holder having a plurality of arms which rotate from a center, the center being pivoted to the bail, so that the supporting structure may be rotated upon such pivot to bring any required harmonica to such position as to be engaged by the lips of the musican.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for supporting the harmonica holding unit upon the bail, whereby convenient rotation and positioning is attained.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means, whereby the harmonica holding unit may be folded relative to itself and to the bail for packing and storage.

The invention, therefore, comprises a bail having a frame attached thereto, which is foldable relative to the bail, and to the frame is journaled a unit having arms crossed relative to each other radially relative to the journaling, each arm of which is provided with means for supporting a 'I harmonica with means for holding the unit with the arms in such radial position, but permitting removal from such radial position for folding purposes.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the harmonica holder in position relative to a musician, showing in dotted lines the harmonica carrying frame folded downwardly to leave the mouth of the user free,

Figure 2 is a View of the harmonica holder in 1933, Serial No. 686,506

end elevation, as indicated by arrow 2 at Figure 1, and showing in dotted lines the folded position,

Figure 3 is a view of the journaling, as indicated by line 3-3 at Figure 1, with parts broken away, disclosing the means for controlling the radial position of the holding unit,

Figure 4 is taken on line 4 4 of Figure 1, showing in elevation the means for controlling the folding of the unit, and

Figure 5 is a view of one face of the rosette pivot control, as indicated by line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The device comprises a bail properly proportioned to engage about the neck of the musician using the same, the ends of said bail terminating in rosette disks 11. Through the central opening 12 of these rosette disks, a rod 13 extends coupling the ends of the bail. Coacting with the disks 11 are other rosette disks 14, and a spring 15 and tension nut 16 are provided for each disk for holding the two rosette disks in such yielding engagement as will perform the required function.

From each of the rosette disks 14, arms 17 extend and are at the ends opposite such disks connected together by means of a rod 18. This rod 18 is preferably made rigid with the arms 17 in any approved manner. Mounted also rigidly upon the rod 18 is a disk 19. Mounted normally rotatable upon the rod 18 are disks 2G and 21 and similar disks 22 and 23.

The disks 20 and 21 are provided with arms 24 extending diametrically therefrom, and prefern ably, though not necessarily, integral therewith. The disks 22 and 23 have similar arms 25 also extending radially and also preferably, though not necessarily, integral with their disks. Each pair of arms, as for instance one pair of the arms 24, is provided with a cross bar 26 again preferably, though not necessarily, integral with the arms 24, but forming said arms into a rigid structure.

The arms 26 have upturned therefrom an abutment 27 and a clamping bar 28 is hinged at 29 to the abutment and provided with a tension spring 30 tending to hold the clamping bar 28 yieldingly but clampingly upon a harmonica 31 which bears upon the bar 26, engages against the abutment 27 and is held by the clamping bar 28. As harmonicas in general are provided with ribs 32, the bar 26 is provided with a grooved part 33 and the clamping plate with a similarly grooved part 34.

The disk 19 is provided with a perforation 35 lfic (see Figure 3), and a latch 36 is fulcrumed at 37 and provided with a nose 38 extending through the perforation 35 and engaging any one of the perforations 39 in the disk 20. A spring 40 is provided for normally holding the nose 38 in engagement with one of the perforations 39, but releasable by pressure upon the end 41 of the lever 36, so that the disks 20 and 22, which are locked together in the manner hereinafter described, may be rotated and locked in any position attained relative to one of the perforations 39.

The means for locking together the disks 20 and 22 are the same as the means employed for locking together the disks 2l and 23. This comprises also a lever 42 fulcrumed at 43 upon the disk 21 and having a nose 44 extending through a perforation 45 in said disk 21 and engaging a perforation in the disk 23 registering with the perforation 45 in the disk 21. This lever 42 is provided With a spring 46 acting similar to the spring and similarly manually controlled by the linger engaging part 47.

When the spring 46 is depressed manually, the nose is lifted from engagement With the disk 23, so that the two disks may be partially rotated relative to each other to fold the device to the position shown in dotted lines at Figure 2, whereby it is reduced to the minimum volume for packmg.

In operation, with the device folded as it will be for storage, as shown in dotted lines at Figure 2, the unit Will be expanded by moving the disks 21 and 23 relative to each other until the nose 45 engages the perforation in the disk 23 whereupon the arms carried by said disks are positioned perpendicular to each other, if the unit is composed of four arms as illustrated. 0f course, the greater or lesser number of arms are Within the scope of the present invention, and the illustration of four` arms and four harmonica holding members are for illustration only.

The holder` being expanded, the lever 36 is manipulated to permit the turning of the holding unit until the harmonica of the proper key is brought into operative position relative to the lips of the user as indicated at Figure 1, Whereupon the device is ready for operation. When a harmonica of different key is required the lever 42 is manipulated to release the holding frame and it is turned until the required harmonica is broughtl into position.

Of course, the harmonica holder herein illustrated may be modified and changed in various ways Without departing from the invention herein set forth and hereafter claimed.

Iclaimz- 1. A harmonica holder comprising a. neckencircling bail, a frame pivoted to the bail, a unit journaled to the frame and rotatable relative thereto, said unit providing means for clamping a plurality of harmonicas.

2. A harmonica holder comprising a neckencircling bail, a frame pivoted to the bail, a unit journaled and rotatable upon the frame, said unit comprising radially extending arms, said arms being provided at their ends With means for clamping each a harmonica.

3. A harmonica holder comprising a neckencircling bail, a frame pivoted to the bail, a unit journaled to the frame, said unit comprising radially extending arms rotatable relative to the frame as a unit, means at the extremities of said arms for clamping each a harmonica, and means for folding the arms together.

4. A harmonica holder comprising a neckencircling bail, a frame pivoted to the bail and including a transversely extending rod, a disk rigidly secured to the rod, a unit journaled upon the rod comprising two separate members, each having radially extending arms, each of said arms being provided at their extremities With harmonica engaging clamps, and means to move the arms relative to each other upon the rod for folding.

5. In a harmonica holder, a unit comprising a journaling rod, disks mounted upon the rod and rotatable relative thereto, each of said disks carrying oppositely extending arms, said arms being provided at their ends with harmonica clamping members, means to lock the arms in the fixed radial positions, and means to lock the unitary structure so locked relative to the frame.

6. In a harmonica holder, a journaling rod, a disk mounted rigidly upon the rod, other disks mounted to rotate upon the rod, means carried by one of said rotating disks for engaging another of said disks to lock the disks in fixed relation, and means carried by the xed disk to lock the other disks in rotary attained adjustment.

7. In a harmonica holder, a clamping device comprising radially extending arms, a bar eX- tending transversely parallel to the journaling of the arms, an abutment formed upon said last mentioned bar, and a spring actuated clamp carried by said abutment adapted to clamp a harmonica upon said bar.

ANDREW LEAMAN FUTER. 

